Tuesday, March 22, 2005

As of 16:00 today GMT, Microsoft is shipping the latest beta of it's free update service now known as Windows Server Update Services (aka WSUS). WSUS represents a big improvement over SUS and WUS Beta 2. Although the name is still a curiosity, it's an important step on the road on the path to a better patch experience for users. I'll post more details, and comments as soon as I've finished the installation!

The comments to this entry (below) relate to an error I made in posting this article. When I first installed WSUS, there were no updates listed for Exchange or SQL (hence the earlier comment - done before the very long synch process). But after the first synch, they did in fact appear. This is possibly confusing to new admins, but understandable. Thus far, I've not seen any actual updates offered for these products, but I've been away a bit and have not had much testing time to put in. I would be very pleased to see Microsoft come out with more details on precisely how the applications (Exchange, etc) are to be handled.

Monday, March 21, 2005

Perhaps I should sub-title this "what I do in my spare time for fun"! I've been writing for the same magazine for coming up to 6 years. Well, I say the same magazine, except it has had several owners and several titles over the years. I started (in August 1999) as a regular columnist for Back Office Magazine. This esteemed title became Enterprise Server Magazine (ESM) where I was Windows Editor (and occasional feature writer). From the start of this year, we've had another name change - to Server Management magazine.

Get more information about Server Management magazine and its focus from the media information page. The magazine is print only, and is free to a controlled subscription list for UK subscribers (or you can pay for delivery to foreign countries). To subscribe, see the on line subscription page.

Saturday, March 19, 2005

Many Open Source (or Free Software) advocates paint a rosy picture of community developed software. The idea of hundreds of developers around the world, devoting their time free to develop outstanding software is a noble one. And one that sometimes pays off. Some of the OSS/FS I've seen has been pretty darned good, and you can't beat the price! For example, I'm using WIX for building installation programs for example - it's just plain better than any other tool I've found for developng the relatively simple MSIs I need.

I've not used Etomite personally, but my good MVP buddy Scott Korman (he of www.susserver.com fame) does. Scott was planning on using it for a new community venture - then out of the blue came the news that the project was being discontinued. It was a blow to Scott, since Etmoite was a good tool for his requirements. We were both struck by some of the observations made by Alex about his reasons for discontinuing the project.

Alex certainly is angry. His efforts have resulted in an almost derisory level of contrubutions (US$300) and he's also seen folks just plain rip off his code. I suppose the final insult is finding his own forums being used to slag him off. While the picture painted by Alex is not entirely negative, it must make some folks wonder if it's all worth it. Some parts of the community may dislike big software vendors, it's almost fashionable to hate Microsoft. But at least you know where you stand with them.